RESOLUTION #2012-__
MULTI-STATE COLLABORATION IN COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
OF OTTER AND BOBCAT HARVEST DATA
WHEREAS, river otter and bobcat are listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species (CITES),
WHEREAS, international trade in species listed by CITES is regulated by the US Fish and
Wildlife Service (USFWS),
WHEREAS, USFWS Office of Scientific Authority conducts an assessment of risks caused by
international trade in species listed by CITES,
WHEREAS, CITES data collected by states and provinces will allow risk assessments for river
otter and bobcat that are comprehensive and authoritative,
WHEREAS, data suggest that dynamics of river otter and bobcat populations are driven by
factors that act at multiple spatial scales, including those that cross jurisdictional boundaries,
WHEREAS, reliability and practicality of statistical methods for estimating abundance and
forecasting growth of river otter and bobcat at large spatial scales have improved during recent
times,
WHEREAS, modern statistical methods enable regional cooperation to estimate abundance and
evaluate impacts of state harvest regulations,
WHEREAS, regional cooperation might improve both the individual and collective ability of
states and provinces to monitor and manage populations of river otter and bobcat,
WHEREAS, regional cooperation might improve efficiency, reveal appropriate harvest quotas,
and reduce costs incurred by individual states or provinces,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that states and provinces represented by the Midwest
Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies hereby agree to cooperate in an evaluation of the
potential for regional monitoring programs for river otter and bobcat by contributing 1) expertise
of their designated furbearer biologists, not to exceed 5 working days per jurisdiction per year, 2)
philosophical support for pursuit of grants to obtain funding for this project, and, 3) if funding is
obtained, access to historical datasets as needed to determine optimal sampling strategies for
regional monitoring programs.